Intel Expected to Speak on Future Centrino Flavours at IDF

by Anton Shilov
08/29/2004 | 02:32 AM

Intel Corp., the world’s largest maker of chips used in computers, is expected to uncover details about future incarnations of its Centrino platform for mobile computers. While the company has yet to ship its code-named Sonoma logic only next year, the firm maintains pretty aggressive long-term roadmap.

Centrino 2005, Centrino 2006 to Emerge on Horizon

During IDF Fall 2004 sessions in San Francisco, California, that will be held from 7^th to 9^th of September, Intel will discuss various aspects of mobile computing, including Intel’s vision of mobile platforms shipping in 2005, 2006 and beyond.

The Register web-site claims that the Santa Clara, California-based chipmaker will discuss next-generation dual-core code-named Yonah processor, as well as code-named Callistoga chipset. Additionally, the web-site claims citing its own sources that Intel will also unveil new wireless LAN solution internally called Gaston. The Yonah, that is sometimes referred as Jonah, as well as Callistoga, are supposed to form Centrino 2005 platform that is currently code-named Napa.

Santa Rosa is a Centrino iteration slated to release in 2006 and integrate code-named Merom microprocessor as well as chipset code-named Crestine.

Intel typically does not comment on unannounced products.

Sonoma to Release in 2005

The Sonoma platform primarily targets the consumers, while the initial Centrino incarnation addressed the needs of business and enterprise users, who are not much interested in loads of multimedia capabilities, but are more concentrated on battery life and wireless LAN capability.

Intel’s code-named Alviso core-logic is expected to support dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM memory to improve performance tangibly compared to current mobile platforms. Additionally, certain incarnations of the Alviso are likely to feature 533MHz processor system bus to partner with the upcoming Intel Pentium M “Dothan” processors that will get PSB boost late this year.

In order to complete the transition of the mobile technologies to the most-advanced level, Intel is also projected to add support for Serial ATA-150 to the upcoming ICH6-M and bring advanced Azalia audio to its “Sonoma” Mobile Internet PC 2004 Platform enabling Dolby-Digital 7.1 and high-quality audio on such kind of PCs. Additionally, expect the new platform to support NEWCARD, as well as new and even more effective power-saving (EBL’04) and security features, such as biometrics

Additionally, Alviso will enable PCI Express interconnections in notebooks, allowing installation of powerful mobile graphics add-in cards, such as ATI AXIOM and NVIDIA MXM, designed specifically for this bus.